F PM‘A photography Series Exploring Colour’

3B EGRD 3015Cassie Bell-Misri 0703755

Outcome:A set of photography books using ‘colour’ as a theme to base my photography around. I will have one book on each colour. The photography will consist of fashion and beauty contrasted with the surrounding environment. I chose a book format as it was a fitting way to house a series of images in a portable form to get my work out into the public domain.

Intended Audience:I aim to pitch my books at people with an interest in photography and fashion, and like minded creatives’. Throughout this project I aim to build up a portfolio of images, strengthen my knowledge and skills of lighting and studio set ups. By working with models and make up artists I aim to build my confidence directing photoshoots as well as gaining contacts within the industry for the future.

Research & Theory:The theme of colour was chosen to take myself out of my comfort zone. I predominately shoot in black and white and wanted build up a body of work of colour photography in order to challenge myself, and not limit myself to only black and white. By developing my skills in this area I appeal to a larger audience and increase my employability. I began looking at how other photographers used colour through make-up, styling, props and editing techniques. An artist that stood out for me was Ryoko Uyama, she created a short photography series on colour using backdrops and props. The lighting makes the models look de-saturated and in turn makes the colours appear more vivid. The coloured back drops compliment the plants and flowers at the center of the shot. From Ryokos’ work I began looking at colour theory. What colours mean, how they work together and how different colours impact the audience in different ways. By applying this to my own work it would allow me to grab the attention of my audience and keep them engaged throughout.

Project Proposal

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When looking at her work I am drawn in by the vivid colours and really like how the flowers harmonise with the backdrops without blending in. However I feel that there is no interaction with the models and that they don’t communicate what the colours mean. For example the colour yellow signifies wisdom, optimism and joy and the model isn’t communicate any of these feelings. Colours communicate different meanings for different cultures, As Ryoko is Japanese, in her culture yellow is associated with courage but still I do not see this feeling or emotion being communicated.

Throughout this project I planned visits to numerous places, one of these was Hampton Court Palace. The idea behind this location was the rich coloured textiles, glass and paintings. However due to the poor lighting within the Palace and not being able to use flash photography I struggled to get any good shots. I was badly organised and did not take a tripod with me, which meant the shots that I did take were blurred due to the long exposure I was having to use. I did however manage to get a few interesting shots of the grounds, I found that the flowers in particular worked well due to the bright colours.

Hampton Court

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With three studio sessions booked I wanted to experiment with lighting so that I had a basic set up to work with. I booked out the portable lighting kits and set up a small studio space at home. I also wanted to experiment with bold make-up to add the colour element for the shoot. Not being a make-up artist myself I found an image of bold yellow make-up and attempted to re-create it myself on my model. For this shoot I used two lights, one to light the background and one to light my subject. I took a total 216 images for this shoot. Towards the end of the shoot I found the camera settings that worked the best, I also found that I got more comfortable directing as the shoot went on as did my model.

Black & Yellow

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Looking over the images from the shoot I the selected images to edit. Due to the make-up not being at a high standard and the lighting issues I had at the beginning of the shoot the final selection of images to edit was limited. I chose images base on good lighting where no shadows were cast across the face. I took the images into Photoshop where I adjusted the levels and removed any blemishes from the skin. Using numerous layers I adjusted the colours to make the yellow much stronger. I am not happy with the final outcome as they have been retouched too much and look edited.

Review & Edit - Black & Yellow

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I took what I had learnt from the Black & Yellow shoot and put it into practice in my next two studio sessions. The idea behind the shoot - a fashion photoshoot where the models were wearing an item of a selective colour. I had also ordered coloured filters for the lighting to test, however they were not allowed to be used with the studio lighting equipment. For this shoot I roped in two amateur models who I had worked with previously. Two lights lit the background and two lit the subject. From the Black & Yellow shoot I liked the contrast of the bold black against the yellow, so wanted to experiment more and tried bold black make-up for two of the shots. The make-up I used for Black & Yellow cracked and didn’t provide a smooth finish so I opted for an oil based make-up to give a sleeker finish. By using models I was familiar with the atmosphere was instantly more relaxed and I was able to direct them with ease, getting poses that weren’t forced and therefore more natural. The total images taken for this shoot was 1107, a selection of them are shown on this spread. Contact sheets of all the images can be found here.

Studio Session - Emma & Rosy

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As a contrast to the models, I planned a day out with two children I know. I attempted to dress them in bright colourful clothing, however like the shoot previous this didn’t translate well on film. However I managed to get some very natural unforced shots. My plan is to experiment with alternative ways of adding colour through image manipulation.

Playground Games

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After the Hampton court shoot, I learnt that any other location shoots I did a tripod was a needed. I also learnt that plants and flowers translated well on film, providing strong impacting colour. With this knowledge behind me I planned a trip to Kew Gardens to see what I was able to capture. To get even more from my day I asked Emma, the model from the previous shoot to join me so that I could experiment with outdoor lighting for fashion shoots.

Unlike the previous shoots that I done I found that the colours from this shoot translated much better on film. For example the blue of the peacock really stood out and dominates the picture. The same can be said from the yellow daffodil, red pagoda and the blue Wellington boots that Emma wore.

On this spread is a selection of the raw images taken from this shoot. The full contact sheets can be found here.

Kew Gardens

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To experiment a step further and add more variation I took a trip to London to photograph at night. I experimented with a tripod and long exposures in order exaggerate the lights and colour. The outcomes are quite different in contrast to my previous photoshoots however still effective at isolating the predominant colour. The images become more effective still once edited with colour filters.

London @ Night

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For this shoot I wanted to overcome any issues I had on previous studio shoots. I sketched out bold colourful make-up designs that I wanted to be the main focus of the shoot. I enlisted the services of make-up artist Carrie Clark and two professional models. I used a traditional lighting setup, two lights to light the background and two angled onto the subjects face. I used beauty dishes to soften the light and a light reflector to avoid any shadows. This setup is predominantly used for beauty as it is the most flattering. I also made sure that test shots were done so that no time was wasted during the shoot. Time management and planning was key for this shoot. The studio, make-up artist and models were booked a month in advance. Carrie needed to see my ideas three weeks prior to the shoot so that she knew what palettes she would need. This organisation had to be carried over to the shoot also, I didn’t have a runner so I had to ensure the models were ready to shoot and on time in order to get all three done. After the shoot I created contact sheets which at a glance allowed me to choose my favorite shots. These choices where based on lighting and the models interaction with the cameras. I took the images into Photoshop and retouched any skin imperfections to give a polished finish.

The Final Shoot - Bold, Bright, Beauty

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Review, Edit, Categorise

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From the images taken I selected certain images to edit. Like before these decisions were based on lighting and composition. The editing process consisted of cropping, retouching and adjusting the levels. The selected colours used in the photos weren’t strong enough for the theme so I experimented with photo filters and gradient layers. The inspiration for this came from firstly wanting to use photo filters on the lights, and secondly from Mario Testino’s photoshoot with Britney Spears for V magazine. As far as I am able to tell Testino achieved this effect through lighting. As I was unable to use my colour filters in the studio I was couldn’t replicate this technique. So began to experiment with image manipulation. I feel that the gradient layers add a depth, and a layer of interest that the photo filter doesn’t offer. I made a conscious decision when editing these images to simplify things and focus on three colours, this allowed me to experiment more with a range of shades for each colour. I chose red, blue and yellow as the majority of my images consisted around these colours and as a set of three the primary colours fits perfectly for this, yet could still be expanded upon to add more colours in the future. With the three colours chosen, I began categorising my images. The images that already fit into these categories I created variations around that colour. The image of rosy in the red dress for example, I experimented with different filters and gradients and different shades of red. I found the gradient layer picks out certain details giving a hand rendered feel, whereas the photo filter alone feels a little flat. The images that didn’t fit into the colour categories I didn’t want to rule out completely so I created variations for each of the three colours. As you can see with the image of Emma with the black lips. Again I felt that the photo filters alone felt a little bit flat and the gradient layers add extra depth. With regards to choosing which colour works best for the images, in most cases the images work in all three colours so a clear choice cannot be established at this stage. That became more apparent when I began to experiment with how the images interacted with one another.

For my final outcome I intended for the spreads to have a mixture of two separate images complimenting one another, as well as a full bleed image across the double page. The idea behind the two images sitting next to each other was to allow the audience to compare, and engage with them. In contrast the full bleed images are bold and impacting. The mixture of the two layout styles will give the books variety and keep the audience engaged. For the spreads with two images I chose photos with similar themes and features. Which allow the audience to pick out similarities between the images. For example the spread with the mouth. The model is lent back with her mouth open looking like she is shouting, and the close up of the mouth wide open has the same narrative. However the spread with the peacock has a different narrative, this spread is more about the styling. The make-up style of the model sits closely with the natural markings of the peacock. And the spread with the dog is a contrast to the leopard print that the model is wearing. These are conscious design choices to provide narrative for the audience to pick up on. With the full bleed image spreads, the images were chosen for impact. Close ups on the models eyes draw you in and you instantly relate and want to know their story. The London

Initial Spread Ideas

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Eye, Carousel, Flowers and make-up shots were chosen for an instant hit of bold colour. The majority of the images I shot are landscape so the format of my final outcome will reflect this. When deciding the size of my final outcome I looked at photography books and coffee table books as well as printers. From my research of these I decided on a 9x7 landscape format. A portable size yet large enough to still get the full effect of the images. When experimenting with my spreads, images such as the Pagoda from Kew Gardens lacked in impact when placed on a landscape spread. From looking Mario Testinos’ Any Objections? He placed images both portrait and landscape, as a viewer I found this made me interact with the book more having to tilt my head and turn the book to see the image as it was intended. I experimented with this for my own layouts and it made a vast difference, the spread was instantly bolder, and no detail was lost from the image. The Pagoda image especially worked for this layout technique due to the composition.

Development:When selecting the final images for the spreads I found that the images I was selecting were mostly monochromatic, as throughout the editing process, I found this to be the most effective way to communicate each colour vividly.

Theory:In western culture red signifies passion, power, love, battle & aggression. I took these into account when selecting the images and colours. The first two spreads communicate love and passion. The third spread communicates power through the intensity of the eyes. Power is communicated again for the last three spreads, along with battle and aggression. The graffiti spread communicates this especially through an attitude it expresses.

Layout Development & Colour Theory

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Development:With the spreads designed, I moved onto looking at the book layouts. The content of fashion and beauty contrasting with the environment was present, however they didn’t flow and as three separate books and were not working as a set. In ‘Colour Design Workbook’ by Adams Morioka and Terry Stone they state that there are three degrees of saturation to a colour. Hue, saturation and brightness. When editing the images I experimented with HSB to gain different outcomes. ‘Colour Design Workbook’ also explains how our minds read colour as a story. For example our mind would register brighter or stronger shades before lighter ones. Theory:For the yellow book I wanted to communicate joy, radiance, creativity and confidence. Throughout the spreads I express these. The yellow flowers, carousel and children playing communicates joy, happiness and innocence. And the models express confidence to the audience.

Layout Development & Colour Theory

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Development:For my layouts I used the intensity of colour as the narrative, running from light to dark. In theory as the colours get more intense so should the audiences engagement.

Theory:In western culture blue signifies peace and calm as well as freedom and strength. Spreads 2, 3 and 6 communicate calm and tranquility through the relaxed nature and stillness of the images. Freedom and strength comes from spreads 1, 4 and 5. The models are strong in their poses, spread 1 in particular, the open hints at freedom of speech.

Layout Development

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When designing the front cover I wanted a design that was bold and stood out. The name and colour scheme was simple. Using just type alone however wasn’t working, it didn’t given an insight into the content of the book. I then moved on and experimented with type over an image I chose the eye as it drew you in, an image of the eye signifies a passageway into a new dimension. By using it on the front cover it was a passageway into the content of the book itself. I decided to go with image within the text as I found that having a full bleed image on the front cover was too busy and the text got lost. The final covers are bold, sleek and simple. The colour and name of the book stands out and the image hints to the photography content of the books.

Front Cover Ideas & Development

Final Outcome

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The final outcome of the books can either be viewed as an online document as an issuu document, or as a print on demand book through Lulu.com. As I have learned from previous projects, hand binding is not a skill that I possess, so decided to get them printed and bound professionally. The content of the book itself determined the binding style. The size and amount of pages limited me to saddle stitch binding. This binding method works well for the books. The laminated covers and minimalistic center fold provides a sleek finish, which compliments the photography and layout style within the books.

The full digital versions can be found here:

Red BookYellow BookBlue Book

The main aim of this project was to get my work out into the public domain. By creating books I was able to do this in a number of ways. Firstly by using Lulu.com, they offer a print on demand service which allows my work to sit on their website and allow anyone to purchase or download my books. They offer a author spotlight service which allows you to introduce and explain yourself as an artist, they do regular reviews of artists work on the site acting as a promotional platform. As the document can also be viewed digitally I was able to upload them to my blogs where it can be viewed by my peers and fellow creatives allowing me to self promote my work. I also discovered Bookart bookshop, a small bookshop housing creative work from illustration, photography and creative writing. The publications also ranged from full sized books, small zines and ephemera pieces. Through visiting the shop I was able to see similar publications to my own, and what they were selling them for. Through speaking to the owner of the bookshop I was able to show her my publications and was offered shelf space for my work for a trial period of four months.

External Positioning

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When I first started this project I knew I would learn a lot, however, I did not imagine I would develop a new style of photography that I was as passionate about as black and white photography. This project has opened my eyes about how hesitant I had been in the past about using colour within my work. It has taught me how expressive and communicative it can be. Using colour can add a whole new narrative to a picture or text and alters how it can be interpreted. That being said colours can have negative connotations that I am now aware of. I feel through the research in this project I am more confident about how I can use colour in my work. This has been the first project that I have stuck to the brief from beginning to end and the final outcome was true to the original proposal. I believe this was down to the proposal itself, it was clear without being limiting. It was this clear sense of direction yet lack of control that made me strive throughout this project. I had a set goal in my head and wanted to achieve it. Without looking into colour theory and the meanings behind it, my books would not have been as strong as they are. It is the theory that drives it and really hold the narrative together. Otherwise they would have just been a series of nice photographs. My technical skills and knowledge has improved significantly. This portfolio maps out my journey in terms of photographic and editing ability. As the project went on I learnt from previous errors I had made with lighting issues. And with my editing also saw a vast improvement. I taught myself retouching techniques throughout this project and it is evident how these skills were developed. For the Black &

Evaluation

Yellow photoshoot the images were over worked and retouching was obvious. Whereas for the final photoshoot the outcome of the images were more natural, I retained the skins natural texture so although the images had been worked on it wasn’t obvious. The technique of gradient layers I used for many of the images proved problematic in the printing stages. Due to the blue and black being merged together through the editing process, the blue and black ink became too dark and knocked out the lighter colours in the images. This was only an issue for the blue book due to the order that CMYK prints. This could have been avoided had I done more print tests prior to sending the book off for print. This will be something I will consider when using this technique in the future, and will be amended before I send the books to Bookart. Overall I feel that this project has had a huge benefit on me as a photographer and as a designer. The skills that I have learned and developed. Plus my knowledge and understanding I have gained has given me a boost in confidence in my work that I didn’t have before. It is this confidence that I will be able to present to future clients and employers. For them to believe in me and my work I have to believe in it first.

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Bibliography

Books:

Bourdin, G (2010). In Between. Steidl.

Eggleston, W (2010). Before Colour. Steidl.

Eggleston, W (2010). For Now. Twin Palms Publishers.

Ford, T (2008). Tom Ford. Rizzoli.

Itten, J (1997). The Art Of Color. John Wiliey & Sons.

Knight, N (2009). Nick Knight. Harpers Design.

LaChapelle, D (2010). Heaven to Hell (GO). Taschen.

LaChappelle, D (1999). Hotel LaChapelle. Bulfinch.

Leland, N (2008). Confident Colour. North Light Books.

Morioka, A and Stone, T (2006). Colour Design Workbook. Rockport Publishers Inc.

Testino, M (1999). Any Objections?. Phaidon Inc Ltd.

Testino, M (2002). Portraits. Bulfinch.

Websites:

http://www.lachapellestudio.com/projects/

http://www.mariotestino.com/section/53

http://firmanozzy.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/britney-spears-portrayed-by-mario-testino-for-v-magazine/

http://rankin.co.uk/special-projects/

http://www.ryokouyama.com/colours1.htm